Right, so it's not the handouts that is causing the wealth gap issue, it's the corporations who are profiting off this massive productivity increases not paying proper taxes.

Corporations shouldn't be paying 2%-10% in tax while their workers pay 30%. If companies paid 30% in tax, for example, then the wealth gap would shrink, for all the points that you raised whether there was handouts or not. If corporations paid their fair share of taxes then the government could actually spend a lot more on handouts, people could spend their money on more than just living expenses, they could actually start to save and then own assets themselves... shrinking the wealth gap further. Alternatively, those handouts could be spent on education, which could also help people either earn more or be more financially independent. Most people in poverty are far more motivated to learn and dig themselves out than those who have never gotten close... but it's hard to educate yourself when you're working 2 or 3 jobs just to make rent.

I don't think handouts are the answer, but your focus on handouts suggested you were essentially blaming people for being poor or being unable to make ends meet without assistance for the wealth gap instead of laying the blame firmly at the entire predatory system that really rewards people for generational wealth and excludes those without access to money, education, networks, etc.

I'm all for demanding a better economy and/or dumping this current dumpster fire of a system (even though I've done well enough within it). Personally, I love the Co-op model of businesses, where all the wealth generated by the business goes to the workers (who are also investors).

I'm glad we're not talking about hammers and drills... my replies would be 10x longer, easily.